Peter Alden Johnston Hodgen – 71, of Ayer, MA and formerly of Gardner, MA, died unexpectedly on Monday, February 15, 2016, at the Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer.  He fought a courageous battle against cancer for the past 17 years.

Born in Hartford, CT on March 4, 1944.  He was the son of the late Joseph W. Hodgen and Edna Mae (Taylor) Hodgen.  Peter was a U.S. Army Veteran, he was SP4 and he served from 1961 to 1964.  He was a graduate of Mount Wachusett Community College.

Peter worked for the Digital Equipment Corporation for over 30 years and was a Production Manager. He was a member of the Granite United Church in Salem, NH and a prior member of the Bethany Baptist Church in Gardner.

He was kind-hearted, loving, intelligent, and strong-willed with a great sense of humor.  He loved life, enjoyed traveling, and riding his Harley Davidson across the country. He was a Boston Marathon runner.  In his spare time, he was an avid reader, enjoyed feeding the hummingbirds, and gardening. He enjoyed golf and spending time with his friends and family. Most of all, he was a man of integrity who was dedicated to his family and to God. Everyone who knew him loved him. He will be remembered for his loving smile, kindness, and generosity. He will be sadly missed by all, but NEVER forgotten.

Family members include his loving wife, Justyne  A. (Johnson) Hodgen of Ayer and his former wife Georgette Hodgen of Gardner; daughters, Giselle Knight and her husband Steven of Wilton, NH, Shelby Hodgen and her fiancé Eric Harris of Brooklyn, NY; Candi, Erika and Hope Peguero of Methuen;  brothers, John Hodgen and his wife Doreen of Shrewsbury, Joseph Hodgen of Virginia Beach, VA and Colin Mark Hodgen of Reno, NV;  grandchildren, Colby and Charlotte Knight of Wilton, NH; Elijah and Kylee Henriquez of Methuen and Brayden Bourassa of Lawrence.

There will be a celebration to honor Peter and his life on March 12, 2016 at 10 AM to 1PM at the Granite United Church, 1 Sand Hill Rd., Salem, NH 03079. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Attention: Dr. David McDermott/Kidney Cancer Research, 375 Longwood Ave., Masco 412, Boston, MA 02215.  Arrangements are by the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading.